Implement mounting for tractors



p 7, 1954 c. R. HAGEN ET AL 2,688,223

IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FOR TRACTORS Filed April s, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. Clm'enee .71? fl ggen Paul cf Hume erg I I Bylaw f 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS';

erg W Sept. 7, 1954 c. R. HAGEN ETAL IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FOP TRACTORS Filed April 3, 19

P 7, 1954 c. R. HAGEN ET AL 2,688,223

IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FOR TRACTORS Filed April 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 7, 1954 c. R. HAGEN ET AL 2,683,223

IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FOR TRACTORS Filed April 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 11W NTORS' C I flail? Pa gl f lfalseb grg Sept. 7, 1954 Filed April 5, 1951 C. R. HAGEN ET AL IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FOR TRACTORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. Clar nae 7/1. .Hagefl/ Pau J lfulsebejg Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FOR Tit-ACTORS Application April 3, 1951, Serial No. 218,936

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to harvesters and more particularly to a multiple row cotton harvester.

A general object of the invention is to devise a novel cotton harvester comprising several picker units disposed to obtain their proper approach to the plants and .at the same time provide a substantially balanced structure.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a novel arrangement of picker units designed to harvest alternate rows of crops during each traverse of the field.

The invention also comprehends spacing the picker units far enough apart to provide easy accessibility thereto for repair or adjustment.

A different-object is to obtain a design which will permit visual observation by the operator into the intake of each picker .unit to insure proper entry of the plants therein and thereby Prevent damaging or uprooting the plants.

Another object is .to provide a machine which may be readily converted from a single row to a multiple row cotton harvester and wherein the addition to the single row machine is located at the right side of the tractor'to facilitate highway transport.

Amore specific object is to arrange one of the units tobe carried'bythe rear axle structure intermediatc the traction wheels of the tractor at one side thereof and to support the other or outboard .unit from a novel framework. carried by the rearlaxle structure outboardly of the oppo site side of the tractor.

The invention contemplates the provision of a novel framework and connection thereof with the tractor, wherein the framework is journaled v directly on an end of the axle of the traction wheels and extends outboardly thereof and inboardly over the wheel forconnection'to the rear axle housing.

The invention comprehends a unique design wherein the outboard picker unit is counterbalanced by acotton receptacle supported from the tractor above its body.

A still further object is .to provide means for guiding the plants in the rows between thepicker the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a two row cotton harvester incorporating the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the harvester looking directly towards the right rear corner thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the harvester with parts removed to clarify the illustration.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of the framework supporting the outboard unit and looking downwardly from the right thereof and showing the row adjustment means.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the tractor and the supporting framework for the outboard unit, and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 5 with the transverse beams in the foreground removed.

Describing the invention in detail, the harvesting mechanism is shown in connection with a conventional tractor, generally indicated 2, which is preferably of the tricycle type, having a narrow single wheel steering truck ii, a narrow longitudinally extending body 6 enclosing an engine and supported at one end on the steering truck, a transverse rear axle structure 8 connected to the opposite end of the body 6, the rear axle structure including a transverse rear housing It and axle means I2 extending from opposite ends thereof and traction wheels l4, l4 journaled thereon.

A pair of laterally spaced substantially identical agricultural harvesting units generally indicated it and 18, here cotton picking mechanisms, are disposed rearwardly of the rear axle structure .8 and are supported from the tractor as hereafter described. Each unit comprises harvesting means having a narrow throat or inlet 26 for receiving cotton plants to be picked. Conveying means in the form of ducts 22 and 2 extend from opposite sides of each unit it and It, the duct 2d of each unit emptying into the duct 22 of the unit and the latter extending to a fan device 26 which provides suction for drawing cotton through the ducts 22 and 2t and pressure for forcing the cotton out through a duct 28 into a cotton receptacle or basket 3% supported above the tractor body 6. The units 66 and iii are basically of the type shown in E. A. Johnston U. S. Patent 2,140,631 and the fan device 26 may be of the type shown in L. E. Nickla et a1. U. S. Patent 2,389,533.

The unit it is positioned in a manner shown in A. W. Scarratt et al., United States Patent 2,352,291 and is disposed adjacent to the left traction wheel as viewed from the operators station intermediate the wheels and comprises a head 32 secured to brackets 33, 33 which are pivotally connected on a horizontal axis as at 34, 34 to the outer ends of a pair of laterally spaced arms 36, 36 of a yoke generally indicated 38, the inner ends of the arms 36 being interconnected by a bar or shaft 40 supported on spaced brackets 44, 44, the brackets 44 being suitably connected as by bolts to a generally horizontal bottom web 46 (Fig. 6) of an L-shaped beam member 48 overlying the rear axle structure 8.

The beam member 48 forms the forward end of a supporting auxiliary frame generally indicated 50 for the unit I6 and the basket 30. The member 48 is connected adjacent to each end as by welding or rivets to the forward ends of a pair of laterally spaced U-section side beams 52 and 54 which extend longitudinally of the tractor between the traction wheels outwardly of the sides of the tractor body. The rear ends of the framework side beams 52 and 54 are connected to a transverse beam 56 which is connected to the front end of the body by braces 51, 51. The framework 50 affords a support for front and rear frames 58 and 60 which pivotally carry the basket above the tractor body in a manner similar to the shown in the before mentioned Scarratt et a1. patent.

The beams 52 and 54 are connected adjacent to their forward ends by suitable brackets to the axle housing I0. The framework 50 is connected to gusset members 62 and 64 which support the operators station generally indicated 66 and the mechanism inherent thereto.

The outboard cotton picker unit I8 is supported from a novel secondary or supplementary frame construction, generally indicated 68, which comprises a truss structure constituting transverse frame means I disposed outboardly of the right wheel I4 as viewed from the operators station. The truss structure has a generalliy horizontal L-section top tension member 12 with a rear generally vertical web I4 merging at its lower edge with the forwardly extending bottom generally horizontal web I6 which mounts a bracket I8 adjacent each end, said brackets 18 providing journals on a generally horizontal axis for a rock shaft 80 which is connected adjacent to its ends to the rear extremities of forwardly extending arms 82 which with the shaft 80 form a supporting yoke or implement mounting means 83 for the unit I8.

The outer end of each arm 82 is pivoted by a pin 84 on a substantially horizontal axis to the upper end of an upright portion 86 of a bracket 88 which at the bottom extremity of portion 86 has a forwardly extending generally horizontal mounting web 90 (Fig. 4) provided with spaced slots 92, 92 elongated transversely of the tractor and receiving studs 94, 94 therethrough, the studs being connected to a head 96 of picker unit I8 and being secured to the associated bracket 88 by means of nuts 98, 98 clamping the associated web 90 against the head 96. It will be appreciated that the provision of the laterally elongated slots permits shifting of the unit I8 laterally or transversely to the line of draft to adjust for different spacing of the rows. The brackets 33 are connected in identical manner to unit I6 and have transversely elongated slots. In the present instance these slots are designed to permit adjustment for rows between thirty-eight and forty inches.

The inboard end of the member 12 is secured to intermediate the ends of an upright strut or frame element generally indicated I00 (Fig. 5). In the present design, the strut I00 is formed in several sections, the upper of which, designated I02, is of L-section and formed as a continuation of the member I2 by appropriately bending the same upwardly and cutting out of web 14 at the included corner and joining it by welding at I04, The lower part I06 of the strut I00 is formed from a U-section piece which comprises a generally vertical web I08 positioned substantially coplanar with web 16a (continuation of web 16) of the upper part I02 of strut I00. The web I08 is provided at its lateral edges with outboardly extending flanges H0 and II2 as best seen in Fig. 4. The forward edge of web I08 extends substantially vertically and the rear edge diverges downwardly from the forward edge and then at its lower portion parallels the forward edge to provide a widened lower extremity. The upper edges of flanges H0 and II2 and web I08 are joined as by welding to a generally horizontal mounting plate II4 which is disposed beneath and connected as by bolts II6 to the web I6 of the tension member 12.

The lower section of the strut I00 is further strengthened intermediate its ends across the upper end of its widest extent by an integral generally horizontal outboard rib I I8 and the lower edges of flanges H0 and II2 and web I68 are formed integral with an outboard substantially horizontal rib I22.

The strut I00 is provided on the inboard side of a load sustaining journal or bearing assembly I24 which is sleeved over the adjacent end of the axle I2, the bearing assembly being connected as by bolts I26, I26 to the inboard side of web I08 in the area thereof bounded between the ribs H8 and I22.

The outboard side of this area is connected to the lower end of a U-section compression member I28, the bottom edge of the member I28 resting on top of the rib I22 and seated on its forward side against the inner side of the flange I I0. The connection between member I28 and strut I00 may be in the form of welding as at I30. The rear side of the member I28 at its inner end is further connected to the strut I60 by means of a substantially triangular gusset I32 which has its forward edge connected as by welding at I34 to the rear side of the member I28, the inner and rear edges of the gusset being welded to the outboard side of web I08 and the inner side of flange II2 respectively. The member I28 underlies the member I2 and serves as a compression unit to complete the truss structure I0. The member I28 extends diagonally upwardly outboardly and has its outer end bent substantially parallel to the bottom web I4 of member I8 and is connected thereto preferably as by bolts I36,

The upper portion I02 of the strut I00 extends above the tire I38 of the adjacent wheel I4 and is connected as by bolts I 40, I40 to a mounting plate I42 on the outboard end on a brace member I44 which passes over the tire I38. It will be seen that the member or portion I44 is of L-section and that the mounting plate I42 is preferably formed by suitably bending the rear web of the section. The strut portion I44 extends generally horizontally and terminates inboardly of the tire and wheel assembly I38, I4 and is then angled downwardly inboardly to provide a tension member I46 which at its lower end is connected by means of a gusset I48 and a mounting plate I50 to the upright and horizontal webs :amsegaae 5 F52 and llt :respectively o'f member -fl. This connection itakes :place at that end :of :member :18 which is adjacent to the truss structure 10. In "the present instance, the gusset I48 isipreferably welded to anupright web I'5'6'of member M6 "and the member H50 hasia part 1158 overlying xweb 'I'fil) of member 1'46anddswelded thereto as at 'I 6'2, the lower end of part 2158 being extended horizontally to form a mounting section 164 which overlies web 116. .The plate i164 and web 154 are :connected as by :bolts 1:66 and the gusset 148 and web I 52 are interconnected as 'by bolts :Bolts --Itli also connect "to the forward "end .IOf :beam member '54 which;is connected IZOII its :botttom :side' .by r a .gussett .member I21 5110 .a mounting plate 112 bolted to the :axle :housing H]. 'The extension member or .mounting :plate 1 H2 :is :also

connected "at :its outboard end ito ithe housing as :by a gusset I I14 .sleeved'over taxle :12.

The istrut W4 is connected at its bottom .side .adja'centz'to its tj uncture withi the'tension member .446 tofthe upper "end of a .compressionzmember 4'16 as by welding at 1:18. The :member M115 is disposed outboardlylof member I #6 abut'inboardly "of 'wheeland tireunit I 38, andatiits lower' end .is bent inwardly and connected :as *by bolts 'IBi) to the top side =.of the member 1112. Thus it :will'be seen that the unit this supportedifrom the axle I2.as wellasatheeaxleihousing1'8. The .members' I4 1, 146, Illi form aI/tension fram'eistrucrture'extendin'g tractorward fromlthe member i Hi2.

The trussistructure .IIJ :isiconnected intermediate 1 its ends to i'thei'forward end :of a'beam rnernber LIBZ :as by:a -bolt 1.84 which passes through the 'web 116 of member 12, beam member 482 being disposed adjacent Ito "the inboard 1 end :of member i2 thereunder and being disposed outboardly .;of the :adjacent wheel I 38, i2 and extending generally parallel 'to the beam :member 1'54 "and at its rear end being connected to' 'th'e adjacent end' of'the transverse-beam .or iramework 5:0. The beam "I8'2'braces the truss structure :longitudinally "of 'the tractor.

The trussstructure is further reinforced by an additional beam I86 which lis disposed ou't- 'bo'ardly'of bearn IBLIthe beamJBii having a-forward .portion I88 extending generally parallel "to the beam I82 andihavingiits 'front end projecting between the .members 12 and 128 adjacent to their outer ends-and connected thereto as by bolt .and bracket assemblies 183 and "Hill respectively. The beam meniber 186 has a rear section I92 which is angled inwardly 'toward beam I82 and then at itsarearlend portion bent parallel to the :member 182 and bolted thereto as at "I94.

Each unit I 6 and I 8 is pivotally connected at its rear side to a stabilizer I39.5 (Fig.;2) whichis a wishbone shaped element having a pair of forwardly extending arms pivoted as at 498, I98 to the unit at opposite sides :of theplant exit 260 thereof. The rear end of the stabilizer ,for unit I8 is pivotally connected as at 2.02 to an "eye bolt 204 adjustably connected to the lower end of a depending StandardiZiIE which isias- 'tene'd between beams I82 and 185 by .thebolts 'IEI i as shown in Figure "5. The stabilizer for unit I6 is not shown inasmuch as it is substantially identical to that illustrated in the beforementioned 'Scarratt et 211. .patent.

The yoke and stabilizer 'for each unit are adjustable for 38 and 40 rows and form a parallelogram linkage connecting the unit to the associated supporting structure, and provide for vershaft 24:2 of fan "device :25 of unit It.

- ents.

6 tical movement of the unit to :transport and operating :positions.

Each unit is ilifted: or lowered by vmeans .of :a lever-.2 08 :which at its lower end :is connected to theibar or shaft vLII] or afltofrth-e relatedyoke38 or '83. JEachleverlZilB is-pivoted:.adjacentto.its1upper end as at $2 ID to the .iforward I end 01 "a :link :2 12 which atiitsirear extremity is attached :to'a plate :2 I4, the plate in turn being ICOIlnECtEd :to :the iforwardends of-icounterbalancingitension'springs 2I6, 2I6. The rearcends ofrsprings 2I;6 associated with unit Ifiareconnectedto the.uppier end .of a standard -.2 I8 iwhichza'tritsllower end is seacuredttobeam:52 adjacent1tto the rear end there- :of. Theirear ends of: springs ZIGassociated with unit I8 are connected to :the upper end of a standard 220 which at itslower endisisecured to beam I82 adjacent to the rear end thereof. Each plate 2I4 is'connected byastrap 222 tothe upper end of a lever assembly 224 which intermediate its *endsis pivoted to a piston .stemz'of a hydraulic motor which has.a-'cylinder223=con- :nected to suitable support structure asillustrated.

The 'cylinder226 shown in Figure 2 connects to the'outer end'of a casing Md-mounted onbeam 182. It will be realized that each unit It and I8 .is .movable' independently of the a other to permit adjustment'for:thespecific condition in-the associated row of crops.

The casing 228 extends inboardly and contains :conventional :drive means from the engine to the unit It through a propeller shaft 239, the .unit =I'6 being driven asshown in the before mentioned patents.

The fan device 26 of unit J8 is fastened by a :strap 23I to portion 102 of 'strut I00 and is smounteduponportion I 88 r of :beam I 86 :by means of ;a :stand off member 1232 which journals the driving shaft "233 which has-a pulley =23Ii driven by'a belt 233 trained on pulleyZM (Fig. 3) :or .Shaft 2:42 :isjournaled in a standard 2 attached to beamed and has several otherpulleys 5246, .24 6

izeyed thereto and-:driven-by belts 24B, @243 trained on pulleys 25 3, i) which-are :driven by apower take-off shaft #252 of the tractor and which .also

.drivesthe units 4% and I8.

The belt itlmaybeproperly tensioned by an idler pulley 254 adjustably mounted on a standard 256 connecting to casing 2128.

IlTWili'bS noted-that the basket til is dumped to %'the left of the operator by pivoting at 258 underurging-of hydraulic motor means'260 act- ..ing between the basket and the 'frame 56.

The operation is the same as explained .in "the pat- This dumping to the left is counterbalanced effectively by the positioning of unit I38 which adds :inaterially "to the stability of :the

:machine.

A guideway or 1passage262 is provided between .the'units I6 and IB .forguiding an intermediate row of :plants. A downwardly bowed-roof plate "264 forms the :top of .the :passage and is curved around the tleading side and bottom of the axle housing) andsecured thereto in any-convenient manner.

Sideplates" 2 56and 2-6 3 depend'from'the lateral 'ends'of plate Qli i' plate 2'66 shielding the'adjacent wheel I? and "extending in continuation of the "in-board sid'e'of unit I8. "Theplate268 extends as'a continuation oftheinboard side of unit "I'Ii, Plates 2% and 258 may be suitably secured to adjacent structure. The passage 262 is designed to protect the plants in the row intermediate those being processed by units l6 and I8 and is located to the right, as viewed from the operators station, of the steering wheel of truck 4.

It will be noted that the location of the upwardly extending portion of duct 22 of unit I8 at the outboard side of unit l8 and the positioning of the operators station in alignment with unit I6 immediately rearwardly thereof affords excellent visual observation for the operator of the plants entering both units l6 and I8. This has been actually established in practice.

The invention is especially applicable to current practice of planting cotton in four rows. The alternate row harvester on a first traverse of a field picks rows one and three and on the return pass processes rows two and four.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body and a transverse axle housing with axles projecting from its ends and wheels mounted thereon; a secondary frame for mounting upon the tractor comprising an upright frame element positionable along the outward side of a wheel and having a lower end with a load sustaining journal for mounting upon the axle outwardly of said wheel, and having an upper end extending above said wheel, a tractorward extending tension frame structure connected to said element to extend over said wheel inboardly thereof and having means for connection to said housing, transverse frame means disposed in a substantially upright plane and extending outboardly from said frame element and connected thereto, and implement mounting means carried by said frame means. I

2. The invention defined by claim 1 further characterized in that: said transverse frame means includes an upper horizontal member having one end connected to said frame element intermediate its ends and extending outboardly therefrom and. a diagonal member having one end connected to said lower end of said frame element and extending outboardly therefrom and having an opposite end connected to the opposite end of said horizontal member.

3. The invention defined by claim 1, further characterized in that: said tension frame structure comprises a tension beam assembly having a generally horizontal beam portion connected at one end to said frame element and extending tractorward to beyond the inboard side of said Wheel, a diagonal beam portion connected at one end to the end of said horizontal portion remote from said element and extending diagonally downwardly therefrom and having connecting means at its opposite end for connection to said axle housing.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and further characterized in that: said tension frame structure comprises an upright compression member extending downwardly from said horizontal portion and having an upper end connected to said horizontal portion at said end thereof remote from said frame element and said compression member having a lower end including means for connection to said axle housing.

5. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body and transverse axle means mounting ground-engaging support means: a secondary frame for mounting upon said tractor comprising an upright frame element positionable along the outward side of said support means and having a lower end with a load sustaining journal for mounting upon the axle outwardly of said support means, and projecting above said support means, a tractorward extending tension frame structure connected to said frame element and having a first portion disposed at a height to extend over said support means and second portion formed as a continuation of said first portion to extend downwardly along the inward side of said support means for connection to said body, transverse frame means extending outwardly from said frame element and comprising an upper tension member and a lower compression member having interconnected ends remote from said element and having ends adjacent to said element connected thereto at vertically spaced areas, and implement supporting means carried by said compression member.

6. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body and a transverse rear axle housing with axles projecting from opposite ends and wheels mounted thereupon: a secondary frame for mounting upon said tractor comprising an upright frame element positionable along the outward side of a wheel and having a lower end with load sustaining journal for mounting upon the adjacent axle outwardly of said wheel, said element projecting to a height to have its upper end above said wheel, a tractorward extending tension frame connected at one end to the upper end of said element and having a first portion extending inwardly therefrom for a distance in excess of the width of said wheel and a second portion extending downwardly from the first to connect with said housing, said element and said portions of said tension frame defining a wheelaccommodating inverted-U arch, an implement supporting transverse frame structure extending outwardly from said frame element and connected thereto, and a diagonal beam member connected to and extending generally horizontally from one side of said transverse frame structure to said tractor body for connection thereto, and means for connecting said beam member to said body.

7. For use with a tractor having a body and a supporting wheel and axle assembly: an implement support comprising a frame disposed in an upright plane and positionable to extend transversely of the tractor in extension of said wheel and axle assembly, a load sustaining journal on the end of said frame adjacent to said assembly and disposed at one side of said plane for mounting upon the axle of said assembly, and means extending transversely to said plane and connected to said frame and positionable alongside said body, and means for connecting said last-mentioned means to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,879,823 Ray Sept. 27, 1932 2,023,491 Rust et al. Dec. '10, 1935 2,082,053 Freudenberg June 1, 1937 2,172,987 Mott Sept. 12, 1939 2,214,818 Johnston Sept. 17, 1940 2,352,291 Scarratt et a1. June 27, 1944 2,413,873 Hume Jan. '7, 19 7 2,616,353 Thomann Nov. 4, 1952 

